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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No longer Canadian: Wayne Gretzky's Canadian identity questioned after Donald Trump friendship sparks controversy
Wayne Gretzky's association with Donald Trump has sparked controversy in Canada (Getty Images) Wayne Gretzky, one of Canada's most beloved sports figures, has found himself at the center of a firestorm — not for anything he did on the ice, but because of who he's standing beside politically. The hockey legend's long-standing relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump has fueled nationalistic backlash, especially as Trump continues to make inflammatory remarks about Canada. Canadian fans claim Wayne Gretzky has 'lost' his Canadian identity The controversy reached a boiling point earlier this year after Donald Trump proposed a 25% tariff on Canadian goods and even joked about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. During this tension, Trump publicly referred to Wayne Gretzky as a 'free agent' when it comes to choosing between the U.S. and Canada. That comment didn't sit well with many Canadians, who viewed it as both divisive and disrespectful. — daveryder (@daveryder) Matthew Iwanyk, Chief Operating Officer and host at Edmonton Sports Talk, voiced what many Canadians were feeling. 'You were a great Canadian, but now you are not,' he said in March, according to the New York Times. 'That is the majority sentiment you will get from Edmontonians. ... As much as we love hockey, we love our country more." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo This emotional reaction underscores how deep Gretzky's influence runs in Canadian culture — and how serious the fallout can be when that identity is questioned. Wayne Gretzky responds with diplomacy, but critics remain unswayed Despite the uproar, Gretzky has made it clear he wants no part in political warfare. Speaking with Ben Mulroney on Toronto's AM-640, he said, 'I don't worry about those kind of things because you can't make everybody happy... But, trust me, I have no political power with the prime minister or the president.' Still, images of Gretzky in a MAGA hat and attending Trump events with FBI Director Kash Patel haven't helped his case in the eyes of critics. His wife, Janet Gretzky, even posted — and later deleted — a heartfelt thank-you to fellow hockey icon Bobby Orr for defending Wayne: 'It has broken his heart to read and see the mean comments.' Also Read: Throwback to when Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, and Bo Jackson became animated crime-fighters in 90s cult cartoon ProStars In the end, Gretzky's silence on Trump's policies may not be enough to protect his legacy from political fallout — especially in the country he once so proudly represented.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'Can we sell skinner?': Edmonton Oilers start Game 4 of Round 2 without Calvin Pickard
(Image via Getty: Stuart Skinner) Edmonton Oilers lost Game 3 of Round 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights and posted on their X, 'Game 4 goes Monday ��'. A fan commented, 'Pickard 6-0 Skinner 0-3' - meaning, Calvin Pickard has had 6 wins in 7 NHL postseason games while Stuart Skinner has had 0 wins in 3 NHL postseason games. Another fan wrote, 'Can we sell skinner?' The fans couldn't have wanted Calvin Pickard more than ever now. But TSN's Hockey Insider Darren Dreger informed the world via the Edmonton Sports Talk, 'We've got the uncertainty of Calvin Pickard, who we believe is day-to-day. But I'm told that he's probably going to be at least a week. So, if that's the case, then the reality is that Oilers Nation has to just jump on the back of Stuart Skinner and hope that he can give them a level of goaltending that they can win with.' An X user commented, 'So out for the rest of the playoffs', another said, 'How oilers of you to complain about your starter starting', and a third fan wrote, 'So, what you're saying is that it's potentially a career ending injury… Not Pickard's career, but Skinner's.' Stuart Skinner versus Calvin Pickard battle is still on through Game 3 to Game 4 On May 11, when Edmonton lost to Vegas, an X account by the name of 'Joe' shared, 'Stuart Skinner just played the worst game I've ever seen a professional athlete play. The Oilers cannot let him play again. Under any circumstance.' A fan reacted to it, saying, 'I said this before the playoffs started. I don't know how they win the series with pickard and then put this pylon in.. what the actual f*ck' On May 12, the Edmonton Oilers released their Game 4 day schedule on X, and fans could not stop discussing their goaltenders, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. In particular, Stuart Skinner's presence and Calvin Pickard's absence. Fans expressed volumes of frustration. 'Playing with an empty net for the whole game would cause less anxiety than having Shit Skinner in there.' 'No Pickard again I cri' 'Skinner in net? Yeah I'm not watching thx' 'I'm scared for this game. ��' 'So no pickard for the rest of the series?' 'If skinners in net I'm not watching guys f**king garbage' 'Pencil in another loss. Skinner is tending again' Also read: 'Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's another Bobby playoff shutout.' Sergei Bobrovsky did not let the Toronto Maple Leafs score even a single goal | NHL News - The Times of India
